Automatic mower pitman



C. PEARSON.

AUTOMATIC MOWER PITMAN. APPLICATION FILED 05c. 21, 1918.

Patented July 18, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLfi PERSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'IO INTERNATIONAL EAR. i VESTER COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

, AUTOMATIC MOWER PITMAN.

Specification of Letters Patent- Patented July 18, 1922.

Application filed December21, 1918. Serial No: 267,837.

r T 0 all whom it-mag concern:

Be itknown that I, CHARLES PEARSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Mower Pitmen, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

iMy invention relates to pitman connections especially adapted for mowers and like machines.

The object-of the invention is to provide means whereby the wear between the pitman and the associated or cooperating parts of the machine on which the pitman is used, is automatically compensated for and the parts at all times are held in proper adjustment. r i I A further object is to provide means for easily and quickly connecting the pitman to the parts cooperating therewith and disconnecting the pitman from said parts.

These objects are attained by the use in' connection with pitman straps of a controlling member by means of which these straps may be forced toward each other, and further by the use of a controlling member by means of which the straps may be forced apart when the pitman is to be disconnected from the cooperating parts, and still further by the use of aconstruction having movement in a plurality of directions to take up the wear between the pitman and the coopcrating parts.

In the drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention, and in these drawings, I

Figure 1 is a top plan view of one end portion of a pitman having my improved clamping means shown therein, and illustrating the pitman straps in closed or clamping position:

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 1, the pitman straps being shown in spread or open position;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 showing in full lines the clamping member in position to close the straps. and in dotted lines. the same member in position to spread the straps; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line A B of Fig. 2.

The pitman illustrated in connection with the showing of my invention embodies two pitman straps 11 and 12, the strap 12 bemg resilient and the strap 11 preferably being maderesilient although this is not necessary for the successful operation of the construction. The straps 11 and 12 are provided at the rear ends with transverse ribs 13 which are seated in corresponding notches 14 formed at thegrassward end of a steel pitman member 15, the straps being secured to the member 15 by means of a bolt 16. Each of the pitman straps is provided at its grassward end with a spherical bearing surface 17, these bearing surfaces cooperating with a spherical bearing member 18 secured in the present instance to the knife head of a mower, but it should be understood that this pitman is adapted for use on other -machines and is not limited in any way to a mower or other-agricultural machine.

The means for forcing the straps toward each other, or, if a single strap only is made resilient, for forcing this resilient strap toward the remaining strap, comprises amember 19 having a centrally disposed portion 20. a lever portion 21 offset from the centrally disposed portion'and adapted to seat on the upper edge port-ions of the straps when the straps are in closed position, and a cam portion 22 adapted ;to cooperate with an inclined cam portion 23 of the strap 12 in a manner hereinafter described.

The central portion 20 of the clamping member is provided with a longitudinal aperture through which is passed a bolt 24 having a head 25 at one end and screwthreaded at its opposite end as shown at 26.

The nut 27 is threaded onto the screwthreaded end of the bolt and is provided with a spherical bearing portion 28 which cooperates with a similarly formed bearing portion 29 formed on the pitman strap 11. The nut 27 is also provided with a .laterally extending offset projection 30 which cooperateswith a leaf spring 31 in a manner hereinafter described. The bolt 24 passes through an aperture 32 in the pitman strap 11 and the central portion 20 of the clamping member 19 passes through an aperture 33 having a rear wall 34: and a front wall 35. A lock nut- 36 is provided on the threaded end 26 of the bolt 24 for securing the nut 27 in fixed position, and the bolt is upset at its end as shown at 37 to prevent the accidental removal of the nuts 27 and 36.

By adjusting nuts 27 and 36 the bearing portions of the straps may be properly posi- H means of a bolt 40.

As above described, the pitman strap 12 'strap 11, additional take-up is provided for is provided withan inclined cam surface 23' which terminates in a raised and offset portion 41 on which the cam. portion 22 rests when the clamping member is in a position to force the pitman straps into engaging position with the cooperating bearing member. A rib 42 is-formed on the strap 12 1n order to limit the movement of the clamping member in its strap spreading position.

In connection with the operation of the device in spreading the straps apart, attention is directed to the edges 43 and 44 of the portion 21 of the clamping member, these edges cooperating with the inner edges of the straps to force these straps apart as the member 20-is swung to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 and in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The strap 12 is offset and reinforced 'at 45 adjacent the cam portion 23 and the rib 42, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

Having described the construction of the device, a brief descriptionof the operation of the various parts will now be given.

As shown iInFig. 2, when the clamping member is in strap spreading position, the inclined edges 43 and 44 ofthe portion 21 of the clamping member cooperate with the pitman straps and force them apart, and the portion 46 of the clamping member contacts with the SpIlel'lCal bearing 18 as shown in Fig. 3, and raises thepitman on said bearing so that the straps are positively forced awa from the bearing and the pitman may be lifted from the cooperating parts. The lever 21 therefore raises the straps using the bearing 18 as a fulcrum, forcing the bearing and straps apart and the offset portions 43 and 44 by their engagement with the straps hold the straps in open or spread position.

When the operator desires to again place the pitman in operative position on the bearing member, the grassward end of the pitman is placed over the bearing member 18 in the position shown in Fig. 3 and the operator by forcing downwardly with his foot on the pitman straps, will swing the clamping member'about its axis to a substantially upright position in which position the-member 21 may be engaged by the operator and swung in a clockwise direction, forcing the cam member 22 into engagement with the cam portion 23 of the pitman strap 12, thereby forcingthis strap inwardly or toward the other strap 11. The difierent portions of the compensating for the wear between the pitman strap and the bearing member 18. The bolt 24 and clamping member 19 swing about the center C of the radius of curvature of the ball and socket connection, and these members are resiliently forced in a clockwisedirection about this pivot through the action of the leaf-springs 31 and 38 which engage the offset portion 30 of the nut 27. It will be noted that as the lever 21 is rotated from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the positionshown in Fig. 1, the cam portion: 22 of the member 20 engages the cam portion 23 of the pitman strap 12 effecting relatively a considerable movement of the pitman straps toward each other and it will be further noted that the oscillatory movementof the member 19 about the pivot C effects a considerably less clamping movement of the pitman straps l1 and 12 than does the rotary movement of the lever 21. This oscillatory movement affords the automatic takeup to ggmpensate for wear on the bearing mem- In addition to the function performed by the spring 31 for automatically taking up the wear on the bearing members, it also locks or retains the adjusting lever 21 in the position shown in Figs. '1 andv 2 by increas 1 mg the friction on the portions 22, 41 and 43, 44 respectively in the two positions.

As clearl illustrated in Fig. 1, the members 19 and 24 are loosely mounted in the pitman straps, considerable spacing for the 1 swiveling or swinging movement of these members being provided, andin Fig. 1 I have roughly indicated the amount of takeup by means of the dot and dash line D which is drawn with the center C as a radius. 115

From the above description it will be seen that means has been provided for forcing the straps into clamping position, for taking up wear between the straps and the cooperating members after these members have been- 120 forced into clamping position, and means "has also been provided for spreading the modifications may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.

1. In a pitman having straps one of which is resilient, means including a member having rotary movement on its axisand oscillatory movement about one end for forcing said resilient strap toward the other strap when in clamping position.

2. In a pitman having straps one of which is resilient, longitudinally adjustable means including a member having rotary movement on its axis and oscillatory movement about one end for forcing said resilient strap toward the other strap when in clamping position. i

3. In a pitman having straps one of which is resilient, means including a member having rotary movement on its axis and oscillatory movement about one end for forcing one of said straps toward the other, said means having a portion cooperatingwith an inclined bearing surface on one of said straps. v

4:. In a pitman having straps .one of which is resilient, means including a member having one end mounted for oscillatory movement on one of said straps and extending through the other of said straps for forcing said resilient straps toward the remaining strap and supplemental means ,for adjustin said member.

5. n a pitman'having straps one of which is resilient, a clamping member mounted on one of said straps for oscillatory movement and adapted to engage the other strap, resilient means for actuating said member about its pivot and means for adjusting the pivot of said member. a

. 6. In a pitman having straps one of which is resilient, a longitudinally adjustable clamping member mounted on one of said straps for oscillatory movement and resilient means positioned within said last named strap for actuating" said member about its pivot.

7 In a pitman having straps one of which is resilient, a clamping member having a ball and socket connection with one of said straps, means mounted on said last named strap forcing said ball in a predetermined direction and said clamping member having means engaging the other of said straps for forcing said last namedstrap toward the remaining strap.

8. In a pitman having straps one of which is resilient, a longitudinally adjustable.

. clamping member having a ball and socket connection with one of said straps and hav- 111g means engaging the other of said straps for forcing said last named strap toward the remaining 'strap. Y

9. In a pltman having straps one of which is resilient, a clampingmember mounted for rotary movement on its axis, and means carried at one end of said clamping member for forcing one of said straps toward the other strap, the other end of said clamping member being so formed that the engagement of said end with said straps will spread said straps.

10. In a pitman having straps one of which is resilient, a rotatably and longitudinally movable clamping member having a lever portion adapted to be. forced between said straps in such a manner as to force the straps away from each other.

11.'In apitman having straps one of which is resilient, said resilient strap havmg a cam surface thereon, a clamping member having a ortion adapted to cooperate with said cam surface to force said straps toward each other, said clamping member being mounted for rotary movement on its axis and for oscillatory movement about one end.

12. In a pitman having straps one of which is resilient, pivoted lever for controlling said stra s having strap clamping and strap sprea ing means formed integrally therewith.-

13. In a pitman having resilient straps, a strap controlling member havingstrap spreading means at one end thereof, and strap clamping means at the opposite end thereof.

14. In a pitman having resilient straps, a pivoted member having inclined strap engaging surfaces .adapted to be forced between and engage each of said straps and to support the same as said member is swung on its pivot in a predetermined direction.

15. In a pitman having resilient straps, a pivoted member adapted to be swung on its pivot to a position between said straps to spread said straps and to force said straps away from the bearing member with which they are cooperating.

16. In a pitman having resilient straps, means adapted when moved in one direction to force said straps toward each other to clamping position on a bearing member, and adaptedv when moved in the opposite direction to spread said straps and engage the bearing member and force said straps away from said bearing member.

17. In a pitman having resilient straps, means pivoted thereon and adapted when moved in one direction about its pivot to force said straps toward each other to clamp a bearing member therebetween. and adapted when moved in the opposite direction about itspivot to spread said straps and .en-

gage the bearing member and force said I forcing said straps toward each other and forcing said straps toward each other when moved in one direction, and also having a portionpositioned between the straps and adapted to be forced between 'the ends of the straps to spread said straps and engage a bearing member the'rebetween and force the straps away from said bearing member.

20. In a pitman having resilient straps provided with bearing surfacesrat their outer ends, a clamping member having means for having a portion positioned between said straps and movable between the bearing sur- Q gra-lly therewith, a lever portion positioned faces to spread said straps and engage a bearing member positioned ,between the bearing surfaces of said straps and force the straps away from said bearing member.

21. In a pitman connection, a pitman having straps, one of which is resilient, a clamp ing member having means for engaging said resilient. strap to force said strap toward the remaining strap, and having means positioned between said straps and adapted when moved in one direction to engage a bearing member positioned between said straps to' force the straps away. member.

22. In a pitmanconnection, a pitman having straps one of which is resilient, a clamping member having means for engaging the outer surface of said resilient strap. to force said strap toward the remaining strap and having means positioned between said straps and adapted to engage a bearing positioned between the outer ends of said straps to force said straps away from said bearing member.

23. In a pitman having resilient straps, a clamping member having a pivotally'mounted' barrel portion and having formed intefrom said bearing between-said straps for actuating said member and a cam portion for forcing one strap toward the other when said member is swung on its pivot in a predetermined direction;

.24. In a pitman having resilient straps, one of said straps having an inclined cam surface terminating in an offset portion, a clamping member movable longitudinally and rotatably to engage said cam surface and ofl'set portion as said member is moved to clamping position.

I 25. ,In a pitman having resilient straps, one of said straps having/a cam portion terminating in an offset portion, a strap controlling member having means adapted to engage with said cam portion and adapted position, and means for swinging seid con trolling member when in clamping position whereby said portion engaging said offset portion will be moved transversely with respect thereto.

26. ,Ina pitman having resilient straps,

clamping means including a pivoted member pivoted to one of said straps and rotatable with respect to said straps and passing through the other strap, a member adjustably secured to said pivoted member, and resilient means coacting with said adjustable member for swinging said pivoted mem-- ber in its pivot.

27. In a pitman having resilient straps, clamping means including a member having a ball and socket joint with one of said straps, means connected toasaid ball for imparting an oscillatory movement to said clamping means, and a member pivotally mounted on said last named member and having means for engaging the other strap to force said strap toward the first named strap.

28. In a pitman having resilient straps, clamping means including an adjustable member having a ball and socket joint with one of said straps, and a member pivotally mounted on said last named member for rotary and longitudinal movement and hav-.

ing means for engaging the other strap to force said strap toward the first named strap.

29. In a pitman having resilient straps, said straps having ali ned apertures therein, a member passing "trough said apertures and having a balladjustable wit-h respect to said member and said ball seated in one of said straps and a strap controlling member pivotally carried by said first named member. r

30. In a pitman having resilient straps, a member passing through said straps and pivoted with, respect to one of said straps, means carried by and movable with respect to said first named member for controlling said straps, and resilient means fixed to one of said straps for swinging said first named means including a member having a rotaryi and oscillatory movement for efi'iectingclamping of said straps when in clamping" position.

33In a pitman having straps, one of which is resilient, means including a member having a rotary movement, and a longitudinal" movement for forcing said resilient strap toward the other when in looking position. I

34. In a pitman having resilient straps, means including a, lever member having a rotary movement and a longitudinal movement for adjusting said straps, said means effecting a relatively considerable movement of the stra s by rotary movement of said" member an a relatively slight movement of ment and a relatively slight movement of I I an adjusting member having a rotary movethe straps by the oscillatory movement.

36. In a pitman having resilient straps,

ment and oscillatory movement for forcing said straps to different distances from each other, separate means for retaining said adjusting member against rotary movement and for exerting continuous pressure to ef-.

fect an oscillatory movement of said adjust "ing member when said member is retained against rotary movement.

37. In a detachable pitman and knife connection, a bearing member, two oppositely disposed clamping members for engaging said bearing member, an adjusting member "rotatably and longitudinallymovable for adjusting said clamping members, and means fixed to one of said clamping members for engaging said adjusting member, thereby tightening the said clasping members on the bearing member by said longitudinal movement of said adjusting member.

38. In a pitman having clasping straps, a

member rotatably and longitudinally movablev relative thereto, means for locking said member againstrotary movement in a clamping or spreading of said straps and said means effecting a longitudinal movement of said member when clamping said straps.

39. In a pitman having resilient straps, a bearing member, a rotary and longitudinally movable member for engaging and disengaging said bearing member and resilient means for locking said straps disengaged from said bearing member, for locking said straps engaged with said bearing member and for automatically tightening said straps on said bearing member.

40. In a pitman having resilient straps for engaging and disengaging'a bearing member, means for locking said straps disengaged from said bearing member, for locking said straps engaged with said bearing member and for automatically tightening said straps on said bearing member. a

41. In a pitmanhaving resilient straps, an adjusting member rotatably and longitudinally movable relative thereto, and aspring positioned substantially within one of said straps to lock the adjusting member against rotary movement and longitudinal movement.

- 4.2. In a pitman having resilient straps, an adjusting member rotatably and longitudinally movable relative thereto and means including a spring for locking said adjusting member against rotary movement and to act on saidlocked adjusting member to produce a longitudinal movement.

43. In a pitman having resilient straps, an adjusting member rotatably and longitudinally movable relative thereto and a single means for ilobking said adjusting, member against rotary movement and to act on said locked adjusting member to produce a longitudinal movement.

v In testimony whereof I aifix my signature. v CHARLES PEARSON. 

